“Who’s the chick?” Cathy asked, tilting her head sideways.
“AH!” the girl screamed. “Demon cat!”
“Well, she got it half right,” I said to Cathy. I turned to Blondie. “What is your name?”
“Sandra,” she answered. “Will you help my father now?”
“HA!” Cathy exclaimed.
“Don’t say it,” I said, pointing to the little fuzz ball.
“A blonde girl named Sandra who needs help with her father,” Cathy said excitedly. “Is this a crush or a hero complex?”
I sighed and turned to Sandra. “I’ll help you with your father after I take care of the demon cat.”
She nodded and hurried off to the path and towards the village. I turned back to face Cathy who had returned to human form with the cat theme still present. Fake cat ears sat on top of her head, poking out from her brown hair. Her nose was painted black, with painted whiskers on her face and a black bikini outfit covering her pale body. A fake tail poked out from behind her and rested on the log.
“Rawr,” she said, scratching the air in front of her. She looked down at her body and nodded. “Damn, I’m hot.”
“Shall we end this dream?” I asked.
“In a moment,” she said, standing up. She walked seductively towards me and wrapped her arms around my neck, pressing her body against mine. Her blue eyes stared longingly into mine. “Don’t you want to play with the kitty first?”
I chuckled awkwardly. “W-what are you doing?”
“Hmm?” she said, looking innocent. “Maybe I’m just jealous that you have a crush on the new girl and want you all for myself.”
I looked at her sceptically and she laughed and backed up. “You’re no fun sometimes, Andy. So, did you want to continue with the dream and save the girl’s father?”
“No time,” I said, motioning to the grey fog that was slowly creeping over the trees.
“Restless night tonight,” Cathy said, studying the fog. “A shame, we could have had some fun.”
“Your idea of fun sometimes scares me,” I said, charging up a Dispel. “Shall we?”
She sighed and nodded as I launched the Dispel into the ground. The dream simmered and dissolved in a bare field with a single tree in the middle of it. The Tree of my Subconscious - our haven from bad dreams.
Cathy’s outfit changed back into the plain housewife clothes from the last dream we shared before she became trapped within me. It was the appearance she chose in her attempt to possess me, but instead ended up stuck in my subconscious. After the failed exorcism, I thought her appearance would change to whatever she wanted, but she always returned to the same body in the end. She never explained why.
The fog was starting to quickly gain ground as we became surrounded. Before the fog overtook us, I thought I saw Cathy looking at me sadly. I couldn’t see clearly but the feeling was there.
Chapter 5
I opened my eyes and sat up in bed, shaking my head. The guardsmen were awake and already packing their belongings. The sun had just started to rise, casting a dark orange light on the horizon and the field. The chill of the night still lingered. It was mornings like this that made me wish I still had my robe.
“Are you okay there, Kairu?” Jeff asked.
I chuckled. “Just a weird dream.”
“Well come on, it is time to go,” he said, leaving to help the guards pack.
I quickly packed up my clothing and walked over to where the Sentry Stick lay untouched and dispelled it. I pocketed it to place at the top of the path should Davenport try to sneak around us after we left for the Evenawk capital of Scert’chak.
We were getting close now. An electricity of excitement was settling into the guards as I led them up the winding path of the mountain. If I remembered correctly, we would be approaching the ravine with the worst bridge in history. After two cycles of not being used, I dreaded the condition it would be in now.
Probably no difference, Cathy said. It has stood since the first war against the Evenawks and will stand until the next age for sure. The magical bridge however...let’s hope Davenport made sure it was working correctly.
Good point.
We arrived at the ravine and the creaky wooden bridge swayed back and forth in the wind. The ropes looked worn and on the verge of breaking and several wooden planks were missing, including a large section in the middle.
Did it always look like this?
I felt Cathy search through my memories. Yes. In fact it hasn’t changed.
Why don’t I feel relieved?
Cathy chuckled. Because when you put the stick in your pocket you missed and got it stuck up your-
“So here we are,” I said to the group. “Just hop on across and we’ll be on our way.”
The group stared at the bridge with an uneasy look and I laughed. Reaching out with my power, I found the magical bridge that overlapped the wooden one and created a bond with my power. Slowly, power flowed through the bond and the magical bridge glowed with a pale light. The group looked at the magical bridge with the same look of mistrust. I crossed the bridge confidently, ignoring the urge to skip...
But it would be so funny, Cathy said.
...and arriving on the other side without incident.
I waved at the group with my free hand. “You have to hurry, it is hard to maintain this connection for long,” I called out.
Lady Sandra boldly walked across the bridge without fear and the guards slowly followed behind her with Ser Wilson being the last on the bridge. Each member of the group stepped carefully over the gap, untrusting of the magical bridge.
My strength started to waver as the guards finished crossing. Ser Wilson’s heavy boots broke through the wooden plank during a moment of weakness and Jeff turned around to reach out for him as more planks gave way.
Lend me your magic!
Really? Cathy asked. For him?
YES!
Ser Wilson fell through the bridge with Lady Sandra being stopped by her guards as she dashed towards him. A surge of power ripped through me as Cathy’s magic merged with mine. The world slowed down as I searched for something to help the falling knight. The life force of small trees growing out from the side of the ravine buzzed with energy. Joining my energy to the tree, I gained command of the tree’s branches and snared the knight by his foot, dangling him upside down a metre away from the edge.
“GEORGE!” Lady Sandra called out, breaking free and running to the ledge.
“I’m okay,” Ser Wilson called back.
“Quickly, help him up,” Lady Sandra ordered the guardsmen.
The guardsmen dropped their weapons and formed a chain by locking hands and dangling Vincent over the edge. I commanded the branch to try and lift Ser Wilson towards Vincent. Slowly, Vincent grabbed Ser Wilson’s hand and the team pulled him back onto flat ground.
Cathy severed her connection to my magic and I tried to hide my arms as my glowing blue veins slowly disappeared. This was a standard side effect of joining our magic together and I didn’t want anyone to see it. It wasn’t something that would be easy to explain.
The blue disappeared as I felt a presence approaching me. “I could have fallen to my death,” Ser Wilson snarled.
“I saved you,” I replied, not looking at him.
“That’s the last time we trust your magic,” he said, not willing to admit the obvious.
“Walk faster next time,” I said, flashing him a look.
Some of Cathy’s magic must have still been present in my face because Ser Wilson actually took a step back and looked shocked. He regained his composure and marched away towards the guards.
Lady Sandra smiled slightly. “Thanks for saving him.”
I nodded. “You’re welcome.”
“How far are we from the Evenawk capital?” she asked.
“Shouldn’t be much farther now,” I answered. “The Evenawk patrol these paths; we will bump into them shortly.”
“Good,” she replied, turning to the group.
“Ronnie, how are the tracks?”
“I’ll check, my Lady,” Ronnie replied, dashing forward.
Lady Sandra and I rejoined the guards and Bill nodded his silent thanks. Ronnie returned a few minutes later from further up the path.
“The tracks continue to a clearing and headed northwest from there,” Ronnie said, rejoining the group.
I asked Lady Sandra for my map and checked the direction. “He’s heading right to Scert’chak. This will be easier than I thought.”
“Don’t doubt him, he’ll have a trick up his sleeve,” Ser Wilson said.
“Let’s not waste any more time,” Lady Sandra said, breaking away from the group. “Move out.”
I pocketed the map and moved quickly to join her in the lead as the rest of the group followed behind us. Lady Sandra had shown her humanity with Ser Wilson in trouble. There was hope for her to break out of her shell of grief. She would be responsible for the lands around Davalin while Balendar repaired itself. A lot rode on her shoulders.
Be careful, Cathy warned. You are starting to slide back into politics again.
I know. I’m trying to stop. It’s just...Davalin has been good to us.
Which is why we live far away from it, right? Cathy asked sarcastically.
You know what I mean.
Just remember, Cathy said sternly, we’re ‘hiding until relationships between citizens and Mages improve’. Your words, not mine.
Well thanks for reminding me, Mom.
I just...would like to not see y-...us be hurt, Cathy said awkwardly.
That’s a weird sentence.
Oh, shut your face and pay attention to where you’re going, Cathy said, the feeling of her retreating to the back of my mind.
The mountain path opened as we entered the Ghanlar Plateau. The rich forest was thin near the edge but quickly grew thicker further west. A single dirt road connected from our current path and headed northwest in the direction of the Evenawk capital. I set up my Sentry Stick spell and jogged to catch up with the group.
I hadn’t made it two steps into the forest when an ear piercing squawk froze me in place. It was an Evenawk sound, but unlike anything I had heard before; eerie, alarming and worst of all, aggressive sounding. Ser Wilson and the guards immediately drew their weapons and looked to the sky. Lady Sandra looked at me questioningly and all I could do was shrug and look to the sky.
More squawking sounded from deeper in the forest from all sides. I stretched out with my mind and felt around for the Evenawk minds. I picked up several minds heading for our position. In their minds, I felt something I thought I would never feel again. The twisted, blackened thoughts of Mage brainwashing.
Seems similar to the brainwashing from before, Cathy said.
We have to get to the capital quickly.
“Shields up and stay in the trees where the arrows won’t reach you,” I said to the group.
“What’s going on?” Lady Sandra asked.
“These Evenawks have been brainwashed,” I answered. “They are coming to attack.”
“How many are there?” Bill called out, motioning the guards to hide behind the trees.
I did a quick count of the minds as the first Evenawk came into view above the tree tops. “15,” I answered.
“Good, a challenge,” Ser Wilson said excited. “Bring them on.”
My magic hadn’t fully recovered from the bridge and I pulled out my short sword. I had enough magic to cover my chest and neck in scales, but my arms and legs would be unprotected. They were areas that could be easily healed with magic. An arrow to the heart was a little harder to heal.
The first volley of arrows rained down on our location. The leaves and branches of the trees stopped some of the arrows but the sound of the remaining arrows hitting steel shattered the silence. I had jumped behind a tree as an arrow plunged into the ground just where I had been standing.
These Evenawks were stronger shots then the ones from my last trip. After two years of hard battle against Mages, this group was prepared for a fight.
A second volley rained down on us and the splinters from the bark shot dangerously close to my head. A squawk of pain rang out as an Evenawk dropped from the sky and landed roughly on the road. Behind him a group of Evenawks had landed on the ground and their wings melted into humanoid arms.
Though the Evenawks were shorter than Humans and Naos, they were much nastier in battle. Having evolved directly from birds with the aid of magic, they expanded into war tribes and it took an alliance of Balendar, Nesqa and the Order of Magic to prevent them from seizing control of Kalenden.
I didn’t know this when I had helped free them from Mage control, but after being oppressed for so long the Evenawks were just looking for their freedom. If Davenport is using old Tower magic to enslave them for an army, he would be a very dangerous opponent. Our hope lay in the combined leadership of Chieftain Harkis and Warlord Narrilok to stop that from happening.
A third volley of arrows rained down on us and a second Evenawk fell out of the sky and into the trees beside the road. The ground troops marched towards us with their spears at the ready. I looked around to see who was shooting down the Evenawks and saw Bill trying to protect Ronnie as he readied his bow.
“Ground troops are incoming,” Ser Wilson called out.
The Evenawks had picked up speed and were closing in quickly. Another Evenawk dropped from the sky and I quickly scanned looking for the remaining sky archers. I found one aiming towards Ronnie and summoned some of my remaining strength. I reached out towards him with my free hand and an Ice Bolt, as sharp as an arrow, sliced through the air, catching the sky archer by surprise and dropping him to the ground. The body landed in front of the marching Evenawks, distracting them and breaking their formation.
“NOW!” Ser Wilson bellowed, jumping out from behind a tree.
The other guards charged out of the trees towards the Evenawks. The sound of battle filled the area as I caught sight of a sky archer aiming at me. I dove to my right as he released his bow and felt a stinging in my left arm as the arrow grazed me. I cried out in surprise and scrambled behind the tree before another arrow could be sent my way.
The wound was mild and easy to heal but burned and throbbed, leaving me feeling weak. A squawk cried out as Ronnie put his bow behind his back and rushed towards the main battle. The burning feeling slowly crawled up my arm.
Poison, Cathy said. A pretty strong one too. Better hurry.
I dropped my sword and pressed my four fingers and thumb around the wound. Pushing power through the burning arm, the poison was forced through my bloodstream into a waiting Barrier in my palm. The poison caused the Barrier to blacken and turn to sludge. I threw it away and it burst on the ground, making the plants sizzle. I healed the wound and grabbed my sword to rejoin the battle.
A couple of the guards lay on the ground with a spear pierced through their bodies but the Evenawks were suffering the most damage. Having been trained to fight Mages at a distance, they were no match for a heavily armoured melee group. Ser Wilson’s hammer smashed through the armour of an Evenawk sending it flying backwards into a tree.
An Evenawk had broken away from the main group to stalk Ser Wilson from behind and I rushed towards him. Bill also had seen the Evenawk and attacked with a swing of his sword. The Evenawk parried the sword with his spear. I reached the fight and swung my sword, only to have it blocked by the spear as well.
The Evenawk swung his spear back and forth between the two of us like a club to try and keep us at bay. I launched a Pulse at his weapon to knock him off guard and as he stumbled, Bill charged in and plunged his sword in the Evenawk’s chest.
Ser Wilson finished off the last Evenawk with a mighty swing and the battle was over. The group stood panting looking for any sign of more trouble. “Search the area,” Lady Sandra ordered. “Make sure there aren’t anymore.”
Ronnie and Vincent left in opposite direction to search the surrounding area and I sheathed my sword. “
Is anyone wounded?” I asked.
Lady Sandra had a bleeding wound across her left cheek, but shook her head. Ser Wilson was covered in blood but by the look of it, it wasn’t his own. The two guards on the ground, Jeff and Trevor, were already beyond help.
“These Evenawks were brainwashed,” I said, checking the bodies. “They shouldn’t have attacked us.”
“So it is happening here,” Ser Wilson said to Lady Sandra.
“Yes, we are too late,” she responded sadly.
Chapter 6
“What are you talking about?” I asked worried about what she would say next.
“We saw this at Thurlborn Peak,” Lady Sandra answered. “He brainwashed the townspeople. When we marched on the city to take it back, it wasn’t an army that was waiting for us; it was armed women and children.”
“So what happened?” I asked. The others rejoined and Ser Wilson grew uncomfortable.
“Our orders were to march and reclaim the White Castle,” Lady Sandra said, “regardless of the cost.”
I shook my head. “The Evenawks went through the same thing here when we reclaimed the city. Why didn’t you tell me he did this?”
“How can you?” Bill asked.
“We didn’t trust you,” Lady Sandra answered.
“I still don’t,” Ser Wilson said.
“So why did you say yes when I offered to join?” I asked. “Based on what you’ve said, you should have just attacked me on sight.”
“I wanted to,” Ser Wilson said.
“You don’t recognise me but I recognise you,” Lady Sandra replied. “When you were at the White Castle talking to the king about your quest, I heard the ruckus you created with the plants and checked it out. I saw you leave with Captain Larson and the White Staff.”
“I don’t remember seeing you there,” I replied.
You’ve never been the observant type to begin with though, Cathy pointed out.
“I stayed in the back,” she replied. “My...” she took a deep breath. “My father and I were visiting the castle with all the Lords to work out how to deal with the kidnapping business. After you left the king declared the problem solved. Said a Mage would handle it. Naturally everyone was sceptical but sure enough, reports started flooding in from Nesqa and Ghanlar. A Mage with your description had saved the Princess in Nesqa, overthrown the Mages at Ghanlar and, depending on who you believe, destroyed the Tower. Imagine my shock when that Mage moves into the Szwen Forest and more reports start coming in.
The Vacant Throne: The Legend Of Kairu Vol 3 Page 4